 23Jun01-28.jpg |
About one third the way up. Plenty of loose stuff that rides better after a rain. |
 23Jun01-25.jpg |
My office is in the building at the right in the distance ("The Enterprise"). Our house is approximately in the center of this picture. This is a completely developed area. All open space is owned by our association. |
| View from the pass looking back |
 23Jun01-04.jpg |
From the pass, you can see off to Mt. Evans. Highest road in the US goes to the top. |
 23Jun01-06.jpg |
 23Jun01-18.jpg |
Some nice single-track up top, some of it quite steep. |
 23Jun01-10.jpg |
View from the top of Beacon Hill. For a more complete panorama, click here. |
Ride Of The Month
Manor House Trail To Tincup Summit
Residents of Ken-Caryl Ranch are truly fortunate to have some of the best mountain biking in the Front Range in their own yard. One of the premier climbs on Ranch is the Manor House Trail to the Tincup Summit. With a recently completed re-route of a steep, rutted trail segment the top of the Tincup Trail, the trail has even gotten better. A warning about climb: it is true a quad-buster, rising over 1,600 ft. in elevation in 2.8 miles with zero elevation loss. This climb rivals great climbs on the Front Range such as the Mt. Falcon Castle Trail, the White Ranch Belcher Hill Trail and the Plymouth Mountain Trail at Deer Creek Canyon Park.
Jason Hamburg, a Ranger for Jefferson Open Space and a former Ken-Caryl Ranch Ranger, comments; "Those are great climbs, but nothing is quite like Manor House."- He goes on to say that Manor House is unique in that it is unrelenting and offers few breaks. Since most of the terrain is located on an old road technical difficulties are limited. This allows you to concentrate more on your lack of oxygen, cramping legs and pounding head.
The climb starts off innocent enough the flat crusher fine trail located right the Manor House road. Be patient, the ascent begins soon enough. As you pass the intersection for the Colorow Trail, the grade immediately steepens. If you think that this is tough, you are in for a long ride. If you make it past this section, you are rewarded with a few hundred feet of flat before you encounter the steepest part of the trail.
In the summer you will want to be here in the early morning or evening because this section is very exposed to the sun. Once you have pounded through this steep section, the technical crux for most people is quickly encountered. The next few hundred feet are frequently washed out so you will encounter loose gravel and cobbles to add to your torment. Keep your eyes open, because there is a subtle line that weaves through this stretch following trail center then left to right with careful negotiation you should be able to stay in your pedals. This technical stretch ends at the Domino intersection, which is a popular rest spot at the approximate halfway point.
The trail continues to climb more gradually with a firmer surface replacing the looser one. At this higher elevation, you'll enjoy the limited shelter of a few sparse trees. After surpassing a few more steep but short sections, the climb flattens out again and you can almost coast to Tarryall if there is a strong tail wind.
If you are still up for it, the Manor House shelter is within striking distance. The next section is continuous but not as steep as others encountered on the lower section. Buckle up and keep pounding, you're almost there. The common end to the Manor House Trail is the picnic shelter. The shelter is also a popular rest spot and a great place to swap stories about the gruel to get there. A good time from the Manor House gate to the shelter is about 35 minutes and I have heard of some Lance Armstrong like climbers doing it 25 minutes. Due to time constraints and aching legs, most people turn around here and head for home. (Remember, descend at a slow and manageable speed and yield to all other users).
If you have any energy left to continue, one of the best single-track ascents around awaits. From the shelter, continue straight up the Tincup Trail as it weaves through ponderosa pines at a moderate grade. After two short switchbacks, you will encounter a short, steep and rocky climbing turn that leads to about a hundred feet of straight-up climbing. Be careful not to get off your saddle - traction is sparse. Once you are past this section the trail detours west around the old rutted trail segment of the upper Tincup Trail. Moderate climbing leads to scenic vistas of Mt. Evans, wide open meadows and shady pine forests. The trail navigates through one last meadow that sets you on the Tincup Summit, which is the highest point on the Ranch at 7,855 ft.
Most bikers return down the same way, but the trail does continue east down to Tarryall. Be warned, the descent is not for the faint of heart. Serious technical riding awaits. I hope riders of all abilities will give this trail a try, and I hope that Manor House to Tincup Summit veterans enjoy our new trail improvements. Maybe we will run into each other suffering on and enjoying this beautiful trail.
Visit Mike's other biking pages.
Visit Mike's Home Page.
This page created on a Macintosh using PhotoPage by John A. Vink.
